Less money to local councils, more money to the EU
- 6 February 2011 20:2091725I've just had this in from Frederick Forsythe, the author - it makes interesting reading
It does seem odd that we are having these cuts (and we all know why), but some without common sense - overseas aid for one and EU contributions being the other.
Here is the piece - do follow the link.
From: Frederick Forsyth CBE[SMTP:INFO@PUBLIC-SECTOR.CO.UK]
Sent: 01 February 2011 16:05:06
To: Cllr Roger Walkden
Subject: Less money to Local Councils, more money to the EU
Auto forwarded by a Rule
It is extraordinary, at a time when every local council is facing cuts, that Britain's net contribution to the EU budget should be rising by 60 per cent over two years. When local and national governments around the EU are making economies, the Brussels institutions should not be exempt.
Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors in Medway have just passed a motion urging their three local MPs to oppose any increase in the EU budget. We hope you will urge your council to move a similar resolution.
If you are interested in tabling such a motion, please email us at info@directdemocracyuk.com or visit www.directdemocracyuk.com.
With best wishes,
Frederick Forsyth CBE
Daniel Hannan MEP (Conservative)
John Cryer MP (Labour)
Jenny Jones AM (Green)
TEXT OF MEDWAY COUNCIL'S RESOLUTION, UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED ON 13 JANUARY
"The Council notes, with indignation, that whilst Medway is facing a massive 11.9% reduction in its financial settlement in 2011/12, the UK 's contribution to the European Union (EU) is set to rise by 60% over two years.
This Council notes that, despite the opposition of some Conservative MPs, and Labour and Conservative MEPs, it is likely that the government will agree to a further 2.9% increase in the overall EU budget.
This Council believes the EU should be treated the same as the other tiers of government and in these austere times should share responsibility, along with central and local government, for public spending reductions. Sharing the burden would result in less severe cuts for local authorities, and give more assistance to councils to protect front line services.
This Council therefore urges Medway's three MPs not to support an increase in the EU budget.
Info@directdemocracyuk.com or visit www.directdemocracyuk.com"
I hope our other MPs in Kent (including Charlie) are taking notice of this.
Roger - 6 February 2011 20:5391729not sure about those figures roger but i do remember dave crowing about a success in keeping the e.u. contribution to a lesser figure than was asked for.
interesting that this effort is headed by 1 red, i blue and i green and a novelist.
no sign of ukip there. - 6 February 2011 21:0191731Shhhhhh Howard, he might not notice.
Roger - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
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7 February 2011 08:2391792what a load of old tosh,what planet do these people live on,certanly not earth thats for sure. - 7 February 2011 08:3691798I know you love the EU with a passion Brian and I guess we're all entitled to our own opinion, but from comments made on here over the years, you are in a minority.
I'm sure that subsequent postings will either confirm or deny that.
I don't think those figures are way out, but I accept that those from an opposing view, will argue the toss.
Roger - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
7 February 2011 17:4591849roger,minority rules ok.
- 7 February 2011 17:5791856The minority here are the few guys mentioned at the top of the page. Today I myself have had the Daniel Hannan missive in. The guys mentioned above are serious anti europeans which is fair enough if that's what you want to be. However they are a fringe group within Tory circles. Hannan is an MEP and when you consider he is totally against this very institution, it strikes one as a serious oxymoron in political thinking.
Mr Cameron and the frontbench elite of Tory circles are clearly embracing the EU. Even Mr Cameron today in parliament highlighted even more his appetite to make not only the 27 nation EU work but the Eurozone work.
It is true however that Councils everywhere are having to endure severe cuts and that the EU is getting a rise in contribution although it is a limited rise. But generally people want the 27 market EU to work so that we can all prosper.email: dover7@msn.com - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
7 February 2011 18:0091859paulb,nicely put. - 7 February 2011 18:13918641. We don't have to be a member of the EU to enjoy trading relations of the most favourable kind with it.
2. Cameron's failure to be sufficiently euro-sceptic cost the Tories a majority at the last election.
3. Continually paying into the EU's ever-growing budget while our means are shrinking will cost Cameron No.10 at the next election.
4. UKIP are taking enough votes from traditional Tory suporters tp let Labour in through the back door, a disaster for everyone especially UKIP!
Four points which I regularly try to din into every Tory politician I meet.I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson - 7 February 2011 18:2691868ukip do balance things out politically, while they take votes from the blues now, the yellows have taken votes from the reds for a very long time.
firstly the liberals, then the s.d.p. then the alliance now the lib dems. - 7 February 2011 21:2091888Peter, your point 4 has been also causing me concern lately. In theory, less people could turn up to vote anyway, owing to apathy, and of those who do, a majority could vote Labour with a narrow margin win.
Then it would be all too evident that UKIP took votes from the Tories to the extent that Labour gets in.
It's a dicy situation, but could be avoided if only UKIP candidates stand who have a fair chance of winning. This would mean a somewhat limited number of candidates. But to stand at an election for the sake of it knowing that not more than 10% or so of the votes will be achieved, could be a recipe to disaster, as it might make the difference and get Labour into a majority.
Perhaps some constructive debate with local Conservative candidates would be helpful, prior to the May election. There's that localism bill to think of, and Labour must not be allowed to ruin it! So UKIP policy does need to be addressed to make sure that no mess-up is made.Chanters, Drums and Drones Potty Time http://youtu.be/99fMqpjnXYA
Rule Britannia!
Kent First http://youtu.be/04F3mAP3fV4 Keep banging on http://youtu.be/qYCU_SKmkGQ - 8 February 2011 08:4391912This isn't so much about supporting the EU or not PaulB, it's about supporting our own Country first.
We're all supposed to be this austerity together and yet we give out hundreds of millions EXTRA to the EU because they ask for it - why ?
We are all tightening our belts and suffering because of the previous government's cock-ups, but we are still throwing OUR money away pointlessly, why are the other bodies not being told NO ?
Brian, as you have such a passionate love affair/blind obsession with the EU, why don't you go and live there ?
Roger - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
8 February 2011 09:4091925i am in a sence roger,but theres one thing missing at the moment the euro.thats beside the other things need doing before we actuly belong.
its time to this iseland mentalaty of being a independant minded fortess and come out into the real world. - 8 February 2011 11:0891935i have looked everywhere and cannot find any information about a 60% rise over 2 years in our contribution.
surely if the figures were correct it would be all over the television and papers? - 8 February 2011 11:2691938There are essentially two kinds of EU contributions; one lot goes towards projects, which requires Britain to pay tens of millions of pounds a day, and is mainly spent on development in Eastern Europe.
The other lot, a much lower figure, goest towards financing the administration costs of the EU, such as MEP salaries and the costs of the EU beaurocracy .
I think the increase in EU contributions that Britain is expected to make is for the latter.Chanters, Drums and Drones Potty Time http://youtu.be/99fMqpjnXYA
Rule Britannia!
Kent First http://youtu.be/04F3mAP3fV4 Keep banging on http://youtu.be/qYCU_SKmkGQ - 8 February 2011 13:0391945I havent had time to look it up either but wasnt the rise 6%. Do you remember Mr Cameron was flagging it up as a success story only a few weeks back. I think Im remembering that right. The EU wanted more but our PM in the battling spirit of St George himself, beat them down.
I think Im right but I quake to disagree with the big names at the top of the page.
Roger it depends on how one views these things. Keeping the budget going to the Councils would indeed preserve the status quo at local level but would not increase our overall wealth. The reason Mr Cameron supports the EU is because he sees it as the road to wealth creation..more jobs, more export deals etc etc.
As we said before there is no appetite for withdrawal from the EU and thats the very reason that UKIP exists at all. Thats why UKIP have seen an increase in their vote because some amongst the populace want a withdrawal. But in mainstream Conservative thinking the EU is right up there, there is no prospect of withdrawal on the cards at all. Hannan is seen as a maverick. He bangs a loud drum but is not even an MP.email: dover7@msn.com - 8 February 2011 15:1991966PaulB is right in noting that the mainstream Conservative view is favourable to EU membership, but one good point to underline is that the number of members of the Conservative party represents a small percentage of the British electorate.
The same goes for Labour and the LibDems, they are both in favour of EU membership, but their members represent a small proportion of the electorate.
Considering that apathy towards elections seems to be on the rise in Britain, and that many who have voted for one or other of the three mainstream parties do not necessarily consider themselves dedicated to all the points and bases of the party they vote for, it remains open to see wheather the view of the Tory and other parties towards EU membership corresponds to a public desire.
When an MP decides to publicly announce their support for an EU referendum, may-be we should ask if their decision in taking this stance is supported by their constituents, or to which extent such support might exist. This is a feasible way to determine the public view.
When I read Charlie's blog, I didn't have the impression that he is greatly supportive of the EU.
Once the Pledge makes headway in Dover, we will then see what the reactions of the local people will be to the proposal for an EU referendum. The Pledge is organised by people from various parties, and does not campaign for any specific party nor against any specific party.
The Pledge does underline, however, that the Prime Minsiter, the deputy Prime Minister and the two previous prime ministers had each promised a referendum on the EU, and that each promise was broken!Chanters, Drums and Drones Potty Time http://youtu.be/99fMqpjnXYA
Rule Britannia!
Kent First http://youtu.be/04F3mAP3fV4 Keep banging on http://youtu.be/qYCU_SKmkGQ - 8 February 2011 16:2391975Alexander - I have never seen such complete out-of-touch tripe about the so-called views of the Conservative Party.
If you knew anything at all you would realise that there is an overwhelming hostility to the EU in the Conservative Party. Evidence - there is plenty but the most obvious has been the failure of Ken Clarke to win the leadership of the Party simply becaise of his pro-EU views.
Anti-EU feeling IS mainstream in the Party. Sadly the Party in Parliament has had to tone it down in policy due to the coalition with the LibDems. But, nevertheless it is a fact.
You can see a range of articles, views and Conservative opinions on Europe via this link - some of it is taken us by the ECHR matters and not just the EU. You will find little or nothing there that would gladden the hearts of pro-Europeans.
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/thetorydiary/europe/
Here is a link to a recent 'hot' EU issue and agin what you read represent well Conservative attitudes to the EU
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/thetorydiary/2011/01/eu-bill.html
You might also get a clue about how Conservative think if you read what the new leader of Tory MEPs said
he is the North East MEP Martin Callanan.... He said during his campaign for the leadership:
""""""We must stick to our manifesto commitments and never again allow powers and competences to be transferred to Europe without a referendum.
We must never join the Euro.
We must continue the fight to not only freeze, but to reduce the budget of the EU. At a time when we are asking people to tighten belts at home, we cannot give away increasing amounts of taxpayers' hard earned cash.
We must continue to fight against the ludicrous system whereby the entire Parliament, its staff and tonnes of documents are moved from Brussels to Strasbourg once a month at huge cost to the taxpayer."""""
His election was a welcome demonstration of a Rightward shift in the British Conservative MEPs and he is by a long way the most eurosceptic leader yet of Tory MEPs.
Finally here is a graphic of a survey that demonstrates how Eurosceptic Conservative members are - it does show a small majority for staying in but that hides a lot of bad feeling towards the EU and represent an ongoing shift towards the build up of pressure to get out.
- 8 February 2011 16:5591979So I take it that 49% of the members of the Conservative party are in favour of Britain leaving the EU.
If what you say here corresponds, then it confirms what I already knew, that we will be out of the tunnel soon!
Well I have some good news coming up.Chanters, Drums and Drones Potty Time http://youtu.be/99fMqpjnXYA
Rule Britannia!
Kent First http://youtu.be/04F3mAP3fV4 Keep banging on http://youtu.be/qYCU_SKmkGQ
